2 Ilocos towns under MECQ

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — Two more municipalities in Ilocos Sur were placed under a stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from yesterday to July 18 due to escalating COVID cases.

Gov. Ryan Luis Singson issued an order placing the towns of Banayoyo and Lidlidda under MECQ.

Singson said the threat of COVID in the province remains high and alarming, noting there were 3,404 recorded confirmed cases, 744 of which are active.

Of the cases, seven were recorded in Banayoyo and 17 in Lidlidda.

Singson cited the continued increase in cases, confirmation of local transmission in the municipalities, full occupancy of isolation facilities and depletion of health workers as reasons for placing the towns under MECQ.

He also extended until July 15 the MECQ status in Magsingal town, which was supposed to have been lifted on June 30.

The municipalities of Sinait and Sta. Lucia will remain under MECQ until July 12.

The quarantine status in the towns of Cabugao and Santo Domingo were lowered from MECQ to general community quarantine from July 2 to 16 and July 5 to 19, respectively.

Meanwhile, in Nueva Ecija, at least 137,600 residents have been inoculated against COVID, the provincial government reported over the weekend.

Of the figure, 105,615 have received their first dose, according to a report of the provincial health office.

“The vaccines used for the inoculation were provided by the national government,” Gov. Aurelio Umali said, adding that he is expecting the 133,000 vaccine doses bought by the provincial government to arrive by the third week of this month.

The arriving vaccine doses are reserved for the economic frontliners, teachers and other residents who want to get inoculated.

Aside from a freezer, the provincial government will use portable vaccine storage equipment to reach residents in remote villages.